TODAY'S PERSONAL FINANCE STORIES

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If you're a supporter of "privatizing" Social Security, be prepared for a possible letdown. Almost two-thirds of Americans still support the idea of having discretion over how some of their payroll taxes are invested, but the Enron mess is making passage of Social Security reform less likely. It's not a matter of the wisdom of the idea, some say, but whether we really should be trusted to invest assets in what's supposed to be a safety net system - given what fops Enron employees proved to be in overloading on company stock. For a probing read on the subject, along with stories on how more Americans are in love this year and the safety of online banks, check out this weekend's Personal Finance pages.

Can I use my Social Security to bet how many Enron executives will or won't do time?

Chris Pummer, Personal Finance Editor, cpummer@marketwatch.com

Social Security reform's uphill battle

Los Angeles: Renewed scrutiny over private pension plans is becoming a harbinger of a greater debate ahead for the mother lode of retirement programs: Social Security. See full story.

Online banks assert their health after NextBank closes

San Francisco: In the first-ever seizure of an Internet bank, federal regulators shut down NextBank, a non-traditional lender whose business consisted of issuing credit cards and taking minimum $100,000 certificates of deposit. See full story.

Still putting on a good show

Atlanta: Homebuilders from around the world are coming together here this weekend, riding an improbable winning streak after a year in which most other sectors of the economy were rocked to their foundations. See full story.

Who really holds your mortgage?

Seattle: Maureen Stillman's questions were simple and straightforward: "Who owns my loan?" asked Stillman. "Why is it such a big secret when you try to find out?" See full story.

We're in love and on a budget

Chicago: Misery must love company because in these tougher economic times people are winding up in each other's arms more often. See full story.

Travelers become captive ad targets

Washington: Advertising is creeping its way further into travelers' lives, whether they like it or not. See full story.

Reporting capital gains distributions now easier

North Palm Beach, Fla.: Investors who earned capital gains and are dreading the extra paperwork that entails may be worrying needlessly. If your gains are only from distributions through your mutual funds, you don't have to file the complicated Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses. See full story.

Marshall Loeb's Daily Money Tip

New York: If you buy an individual health insurance policy, you may be wise to take the highest available deductible. This should enable you to save enough on premiums to more than cover an occasional budget-bloating medical expense. See full story.

Brayman finds little low-hanging fruit

New York: Scott Brayman knows how difficult a feat it is to find value among companies with strong balance sheets and a good return on capital. See full story.

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